Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA.
Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation, Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid - UFERSA, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
BMC Genomics. 2021 Nov 23;22(1):847. doi: 10.1186/s12864-021-08099-8.
Fundamental knowledge of cellular and molecular mechanisms in developing testicular tissues is critical to better understand gonadal biology and responses to non-physiological conditions. The objective of our study was to (1) analyze transcriptome dynamics in developing testis of the domestic cat and (2) characterize age effects on the initial response of the tissue to vitrification. Tissues from adult and juvenile cats were processed for histology, DNA integrity, and RNA sequencing analyses before and after vitrification.
Transcriptomic findings enabled to further characterize juvenile period, distinguishing between early and late juvenile tissues. Changes in gene expression and functional pathways were extensive from early to late juvenile to adult development stages. Additionally, tissues from juvenile animals were more resilient to vitrification compared to adult counterparts, with early juvenile sample responding the least to vitrification and late juvenile sample response being closest to adult tissues.
This is the first study reporting comprehensive datasets on transcriptomic dynamic coupled with structural analysis of the cat testis according to the age and exposure to cryopreservation. It provides a comprehensive network of functional terms and pathways that are affected by age in the domestic cat and are either enriched in adult or juvenile testicular tissues.
了解发育中睾丸组织的细胞和分子机制的基础知识对于更好地理解性腺生物学和对非生理条件的反应至关重要。我们的研究目的是：(1) 分析家猫发育睾丸组织的转录组动态；(2) 描述年龄对组织对玻璃化初始反应的影响。在玻璃化前后，对成年和幼年猫的组织进行组织学、DNA 完整性和 RNA 测序分析。
转录组学研究结果使我们能够进一步描述幼年时期，区分早期和晚期幼年组织。从幼年到成年发育阶段，基因表达和功能途径的变化非常广泛。此外，与成年组织相比，幼年动物的组织对玻璃化更具弹性，早期幼年样本对玻璃化的反应最小，而晚期幼年样本的反应最接近成年组织。
这是第一项根据年龄和暴露于冷冻保存情况，报告有关猫睾丸转录组动态与结构分析综合数据集的研究。它提供了一个受年龄影响的功能术语和途径的综合网络，这些术语和途径在家猫的成年或幼年睾丸组织中丰富。
